A groundbreaking study led by researchers at Chalmers University of Technology in Sweden has identified biomarkers in the blood that can detect Parkinson’s disease at its earliest stages. This discovery, which involves measurable biological processes, offers a potential window for early diagnosis and treatment before significant brain damage occurs. The research team anticipates that blood tests based on these findings could be tested in healthcare settings within five years.
Parkinson’s disease currently affects more than 10 million people worldwide, a number expected to more than double by 2050 as the global population ages. Despite its prevalence, there is no effective cure or established early screening method for this chronic neurological disorder. The study, published in npj Parkinson’s Disease, represents a significant step forward in addressing this gap.
Unveiling the Early Signs of Parkinson’s
The study, conducted in collaboration with Oslo University Hospital in Norway, highlights the importance of early detection. According to Danish Anwer, a doctoral student at Chalmers and the study’s first author, “By the time the motor symptoms of Parkinson’s disease appear, 50 – 80 percent of the relevant brain cells are often already damaged or gone.” The research focuses on two key processes: DNA damage repair and the stress response, both of which are active in the disease’s early phase.
Using advanced machine learning techniques, the researchers identified a distinct pattern of gene activities related to these processes in patients in the early stages of Parkinson’s. This pattern was absent in healthy individuals and those already exhibiting symptoms, suggesting a unique opportunity for early intervention.
A Window of Opportunity
Annikka Polster, Assistant Professor at Chalmers and the study’s lead, emphasized the significance of these findings. “We have found an important window of opportunity in which the disease can be detected before motor symptoms caused by nerve damage in the brain appear,” she stated. The study’s focus on early-stage mechanisms could also inform future treatments.
While other research efforts have explored biological indicators through brain imaging and fluid analyses, no validated tests for widespread early screening exist. Polster noted, “In our study, we highlighted biomarkers that likely reflect some of the early biology of the disease and showed they can be measured in blood. This paves the way for broad screening tests via blood samples: a cost-effective, easily accessible method.”
Implications for Future Healthcare
Looking ahead, the research team aims to further understand the mechanisms activated in the early stages of Parkinson’s and develop tools to facilitate detection. Within five years, they hope to see blood tests for early diagnosis being trialed in healthcare settings. In the longer term, this research could also contribute to the development of drugs to prevent or treat the disease.
Polster expressed optimism about the potential impact of these findings: “If we can study the mechanisms as they happen, it could provide important keys to understanding how they can be stopped and which drugs might be effective. This may involve new drugs, but also drug repurposing, where we can use drugs developed for diseases other than Parkinson’s because the same gene activities or mechanisms are active.”
Funding and Collaboration
The study, titled Longitudinal assessment of DNA repair signature trajectory in prodromal versus established Parkinson’s disease, was authored by Danish Anwer, Nicola Pietro Montaldo, Elva Maria Novoa-del-Toro, Diana Domanska, Hilde Loge Nilsen, and Annikka Polster. It was funded by Chalmers Health Engineering Area of Advance, the Michael J Fox Foundation, the Research Council of Norway, NAISS, and the Swedish Research Council.
Understanding Parkinson’s Disease
Parkinson’s disease is a neurological disorder that impairs the brain’s ability to control movement. It typically develops slowly, usually after the age of 55-60, and is the second most common neurodegenerative disease worldwide, following Alzheimer’s. Early symptoms include REM sleep behavior disorder, reduced sense of smell, constipation, depression, and anxiety. As the disease progresses, motor symptoms become more pronounced.
As the global scientific community continues to explore ways to combat Parkinson’s, this study offers a promising avenue for early detection and intervention, potentially transforming the landscape of Parkinson’s diagnosis and treatment in the coming years.